The Morrison Government is supporting two renewable energy hybrid microgrid plants at mines in Western Australia.
$13.5 million in funding will be provided to the Agnew Gold Mining Company Pty Ltd which is part of the Gold Fields Groups.
The funding, provided through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), will be used to develop a microgrid integrating five wind turbines, a 10,000 panel 4 MW solar farm, a 13 MW battery energy storage system and a 16 MW gas engine power station.
The mine in the Western Australian northern goldfields will use 55 to 60 per cent renewable generation as part of its total energy requirement.
In addition, $3 million in funding is being provided to Port Gregory Wind Farm Pty Ltd to build a grid-connected wind, solar and lithium-ion battery project in Port Gregory near Kalbarri, Western Australia.
This microgrid hybrid project, developed by Perth-based Advanced Energy Resources, will consist of a 2.5 MW wind farm, a 1 MW solar farm and a 2 MW / 0.5 MWh battery which will provide up to 70 per cent of the electricity needs of a nearby garnet mining and processing plant.
The wind turbines being used in Port Gregory are refurbished turbines from northern Germany.
It is hoped that other similar organisations will be able to look at these projects as a test case for energy solutions off the grid.
The Morrison Government is committed to investing in new renewable projects that will deliver more affordable and reliable power for Australian families and businesses.
